Philemon Part One Dive
THE CHEEKY REQUEST
Paul is a lot of things in his letters – fiery, passionate, self-effacing, confident, controversial, and in this letter of Philemon, he is completely cheeky.
As we went through in our Snapshot video, Paul is writing to one of the leaders of the house groups in Colosse, Philemon, asking him to pardon his slave, Onesimus. Paul does it with such cheek and confidence that you can only imagine the reaction of Philemon.
Now, use your imagination and venture with me a little bit into what it looked like when Philemon got the letter. Firstly, we have to ask ourselves, did Onesimus deliver the letter himself? Did Paul send Onesimus back with the letter of pardon in his hand? Check out Chapter 1:10: ‘I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him – who is my very heart - back to you’.
The next question I ask myself is, did Philemon read it to his whole church? The letter is addressed after all not just to Philemon, but ‘also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home’. Did this letter actually get read to the whole church, or was the request by Paul so controversial and so confronting for Philemon that he didn’t pass on the message? I find it amazing that Paul addressed this letter to the whole church when, really, it has nothing to do with the church, it is a request of pardon for Philemon alone!
THE BUILD UP
There is so much cheek in this short letter that you can see the amazing personality of Paul through each word. I mean, check out the thanksgiving and prayer.
P 1:4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.
He might as well write here ‘and I am going to ask you to demonstrate that love and faith in the next two seconds’! Paul continues to butter him up in the next couple of verses before he states ‘Therefore’ – and he is only getting warmed up! Therefore – meaning because you have love for God’s holy people, because of your faith, because of our partnership, because your love gives me joy and because you have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people – because of all of this, therefore…!
But his cheekiness doesn’t end here…
P 1:8-9 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love.
Paul, seriously?! In our terms today, this would be: ‘You owe me big time and I’m about to cash in one of my favours!’ Have you noticed that we are nine verses in and he hasn’t got to the question yet? I’m guessing if Onesimus did bring the letter himself to Philemon, at this point Philemon would be wanting to scream, ‘Get on with it Paul and tell me what you want me to do!’ And Onesimus was probably sweating profusely as he stood in front of his master waiting for his reaction!
Stop at this moment in the letter – what has Paul done so far? He has reminded Philemon is reminded of his ministry, of how he acts in public in front of his house church, of his reputation. He has reminded him that Paul is, in fact, his partner in the gospel of Christ, he has reminded him of what he is to others in the public eye. But Paul’s request is not asking him about his public life, it’s going to hit the heart of his private life. What do you do when you have every right to punish and be offended and you are asked to forgive and embrace? In his opening letter, Paul is saying ‘I know the rumours about you and your public ministry, but my request is going to find out what is in your heart– do you have the character, integrity, ability to forgive in your private life? Does your home life reflect your public persona? Do you practice what you preach?’
FINALLY, THE REQUEST
And now finally after dancing around the subject for sixteen verses…
P 1:17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.
Paul wants Philemon to not only accept Onesimus back but to forgive him his debts. This goes against the very nature and rights of the society that Philemon lived in. In the 1st Century, a master had the right to punish a slave that left them without permission. And some scholars believe that Onesimus didn’t just leave but probably stole things from Philemon to help fund the trip, which is why Paul says, ‘If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me’.
This incredibly cheeky request from Paul hits at the heart and home life of Philemon. Most of Paul’s letter talk about Church issues or encouraging Church leaders like Timothy and Titus, but this one hits Philemon where it matters most. Are you going to do what society tells you is your right, or are you going to be a follower of Christ that goes against society’s hatred and norms and forgive, love when they hate? Are you willing to revolutionise the slave culture of the 1st Century by not being the master everyone expects you to be? By accepting Onesimus back with open arms and as a ‘brother in Christ’?
Now, scholars believe that Philemon must have done as Paul asked that is why the letter is still in existence to be included in our Bible. If he didn’t do what was asked, he probably would have destroyed the letter! But it was saved and was in circulation in the 1st Century Church (a requirement for its inclusion in the Bible) and we get to see the cheeky request of Paul to embrace and forgive even if it goes against ‘your rights’!
You can imagine the amazing sermon that Philemon preached the next Sunday in his house church – Forgiveness Starts At Home!
Have a great time reading this short and cheeky letter!
recommended
An Introduction to the Old Testament
Philemon part one
Song of Songs part one